SPORTS PEOPLE: AUTO RACING

SPORTS PEOPLE: AUTO RACING; Daytona War Tribute

Published: February 8, 1991

American military personnel in the Persian Gulf who watch the Daytona 500 on television or hear it on radio Feb. 17 will have an added rooting interest. Five cars will be painted in colors representing the branches of the United States Armed Forces.

Alan Kulwicki, for example, will drive a Ford painted in desert camouflage to represent the Army. Buddy Baker's Pontiac, in red, blue and gold, will be carrying the colors of the Marines. The other drivers and the branches they will race for are Mickey Gibbs, Air Force; Greg Sacks, Navy, and Dave Marcis, Coast Guard.

The R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, which sponsors stock car racing's Winston Cup championship, is backing the five cars for the Daytona 500 only, the company announced yesterday at a news conference in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Bob Kelly, a spokesman for R. J. Reynolds, said that if any of the five drivers did not qualify for the race, a replacement would be found among the drivers who do.